Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

THE LAW OF PRIMOGENITURE. The existence of a social order, the members of which subsist wholly on the rent of agricultural land, is almost peculiar this country. Certain customs exist which lead to th? accumulation of land in a few hands, and certain laws have given effect to this custom, and have even strengthened it. The custom applies to land only, or rather to what is called real estate— an expression which is a little narrower than land; for a person may have a lease of a thousand years, at a nominal rent, or even a fictitious rent; and though, under these circumstances his interest in the soil is practically as grea. as though he had the greatest ownership which the law allows, lie is not supposed in law to have a real but only a personal estate. Again, there are certain others interests in land which do not follow the custom alluded to-that, namely, of primogeniture, by which the estate of a deceased person devolves on his e Idest male child, to the exclusion of all other chil- dren but by far the largest portion of the land con- tained in the United Kingdom is subject to this custom. It is perfectly clear that the existence of this custom, joined to the power which persons possess by law of tying up or limiting their estates in favour of persons who are yet unborn, must, as time goes on, make the number of estates less, and their size greater, and must confer on the owners of such estates extraordinary powers of exacting high prices for the temporary use of that land, of which, in many localities, one or two persons possess a real monopoly. It would be absurd to doubt that when an individual or a corporation possesses all the land, for example, in the vicinity of a growing town, the price which may be demanded for the occupation of such land will be much higher than it would be if the ownership were divided among fifty persons. The price of any article is as much determined by the necessity of those who sell as it is by the needs of those who buy; and if, under peculiar circumstances, the buyer is at the mercy of the seller, the price will be raised by the latter to as great a height as the former can endure. Now it is not my object to advert to the social or political consequences of such a custom as that of primogeniture, and of such a law as that which enables a possessor of pro- pertv, and especially of land, to create by any act of his own an interest in such land on behalf of unborn persons. The results of such a system may be, as some have contended, of great public benefit; or they may be, as others allege, exceedingly mischievous. But no one can doubt that they do produce two or three notable economical effects. They tend to de- crease the number of landowners, and to increase the bigness of estates. They tend towards enabling the owners of these estates to exact a monopoly price for the occupation of land. They bring about a state of things in which a particular social class lives on the rent Z, of land; and, it may be added, they induce results which are peculiarly characteristic of this country, and which give an interest to the question of rent, which is not so prominent in discussing the economical condition of other countries.—Ca-ssells New Popular Educator.

CURIOSITIES OF THE POST OFFICE. Time flies, and there are one or two corners of the main room to be seen before the bags are made up. One of them is devoted to the task of extricating from their helpless situation the letters which, through the incoherence of their addresses, have got into a blind turning. Experienced officials search the Post Office Guide and Directories, and if a probable destination is found, the endorsement we have all sometimes seen on our letters, Try so-and-so," is made. Some of the most extraordinary perversions of addresses which have been detected by this process have been pre- served by the department in a book which is shown to visitors. One would not at first sight recognise that Santlings, Hilewite," was intended for St. Helen's, Isle of Wight," or that Haselfeaeh in no famtshere meantHazelbeach, Northamptonshire." Metropolitan places come in for their share of distortion. Holborn Viaduct is consolidated into Obanvidock," and Mile End appears as "Mailand." Either an excess of loyalty, or some haziness as to the precise division of labour between Sovereign and her Ministers, must have prompted the person who addressed a letter" to the Sectery- of Wore, Chelsey Osbitile, London, Queen Victoria," while the importance of preserving a broad distinction between urban and rural districts may per- haps have animated Lord Northbrook's correspondent, who addressed his lordship as Lord-northbrook, Stroton House, Country." Of course, there are ad- dresses which are absolutely hopeless, and there are letters which bear no address at all. One can quite understand from one's personal experience that a letter must occasionally be slipped into the post in a blank envelope. But it is somewhat startling to be told that in each of the last two years there were more than 26,000 of such letters; and perhaps still more so to find that carelessness is not precluded when money is at stake, for in this batch was enclosed in each year about X6000 in cash, cheques, or some other form. It was perhaps, however, confidence in the Post Office rather than negligence which was exemplified by the man who in 1881 posted a E,5 Bank of England note without any cover whatever, but merely folded in two, and bearmg a penny postage stamp .—English Illustrated Magazine,

REMAINS OF FORMER CIVILISATION IN THE SOUDAN. Under the above heading the Daily News has an article, from which we extract the following The name Soudan means the Country of the Blacks. This agrees with its old appellation of Cush, a term derived from the son of Ham, who we are told was the great progenitor of the black races of Africa. It is at the same time the counterpart of the word Ethiopia, by which the same region was designated in the Bible, as well as by all the writers of antiquity. As a division of the earth's surface Ethiopia was not very clearly defined; this resulted from its almost inaccessible position, on which account authors could only speak of it from the vaguest hearsay. It is only in our own day that travellers can be said to have penetrated into this part of the world, and brought back reliable accounts of it. Even yet our knowledge is far from complete, and information regarding many districts is still to be desired. We have, however, quite sufficient data upon which to declare that there was in the past a much higher condition of civilization than we now find in the Soudan. It might perhaps be put that it was as far superior to the present state of the country as the former civilization of the Pharaohs was in advance of that under the Pashas and Khedives of our own day. Ethiopia was celebrated in more ways than one. Isaiah mentions the "merchandise of Ethiopia." The Queen of Sheba bought gold, precious stones, and spices-it is even stated that "there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the Queen of Sheba gave to Solomon." We have lately had experience of the Soudanese as fearless fighters, but in the time of Jeremiah the people of the same locality seem to have been equally famed, and the prophet's account of them will be recognised as correctly descriptive yet. He says: Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth—the Ethiopians and Libyans, that handle the shield." Chariots are not a feature of the Soudan in the present day, but they seem to have been plentiful at one time for Ghishak, King of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem with twelve hundred chariots, and his forces are described as the Lubims, the Sukkums, and the Ethiopians (2. Chron. xii. 3). The Lubim are supposed to be the ancient Libyans, and the Sukkums have been suggested, by at least one writer, as a tribe of the desert who have left their name in the present Souakim. Memnon, a King of Ethiopia, came with 10,000 men, and took part in the defence of Troy. The Greeks seemed to have believed in an Ethiopia'in the east as well as in the west, and this idea was not confined to them; but the Ethio- pians which have been here referred to as having a reputation in ancient history belonged to the region now known as the Soudan. In the Acts of the Apostles mention is made of the servant of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians;" he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was travelling in a chariot. This Queen is supposed to have reigned at Meroe. This was a very important kingdom at one time; it was called the Island of Meroe, for it was bounded on the west by the Blue Nile, and on the east by the Astaboras, the present Atbara-these rivers almost surrounding it. Strabo describes its shapes as being like a shield from north to south it may be roughly put as about 300 miles, and about 200 in its widest, from east to west. The capital had the same name as the country its site is generally sup- posed to have been at a spot on the right bank of the Nile, about 120 miles below Khartoum, where there still remains a group of about eighty paramids, mark- ing the ancient place of sepulchre of the Kings of Meroe. These pyramids differ from those of Egypt in being higher in proportion to their base, and in having a portico, or ante-chamber, on one of their sides. Lepsius, who visited these monuments, came to the conclusion that they dated about a century before the birth of Christ, thus re- versing the conclusions of earlier travellers, who made them the models after which the pyramids of the north were copied; but he considered that they were Royal sepulchres, and that they indicated a long suc- cession of Kings, as well as an established state of tranquillity which must have existed for a series of centuries. This period of greatness coincides closely with the time of Queen Candace, and her wealth, which is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. About fifty miles nearer to Khartoum, and also on the east bank of the river, there are some considerable ruins at Ben Naga, and in the Wadi Sofra. The Kings of Meroe were elected by a college of priests, and, when they thought he had reigned long enough, a messenger ,was sent to command him to die. This peculiar custom lasted till the time of the second Ptolemy, when a king named Ergamenes, or Arkaman, changed the whole arrangement by massacring the priests. Shendy was for a long time the capital of the same district, and was the residence of a race of Maleks or kings. Their palace or castle still remains; it was in this stronghold that King Nimr got up a grand festival in honour of Ishmael Pacha, which was con- ,te cluded during the night by his destruction through setting fire to the place he was in. There are con- siderable architectural remains on both sides of the river as far down as Dongola, but the most important are those at Jabel Berkel, where there are temples, some of them with the adytum ex- cavated in the rock, and two groups of pyra- mids. This is supposed to have been the ancient Napata. There are also some pyramids on the opposite side of the Nile from Jebel Berkel. These remains, although inferior as works of art, and not comparable in any respect with the grandeur of the ancient. monuments of Egypt, yet imply a con- dition of civilization which contrasts sadly with what is found at the present in the Soudan. The fame of ancient Ethiopia implies a larger population than is now found in that region its prosperity and wealth are evidence of a more extensive cultivation than what is carried on in the present day. Abyssinia is not now, in a political sense, a part of the Soudan, but it was always included in the older term of Ethiopia. King John still calls himself the King of the Kings of Ethiopia." This country presents the same features of decay which are so striking over the whole of North-Eastern Africa; the deterioration in this case is not so great, for the ground is fertile, and the mountainous nature of the country has enable the Abys- sinians to preserve some vestiges of national independence; still the wattle-and-dab huts and churches of the present day contrast strangely with the older remains. There is an obelisk at Axum which, according to a legend, was erected by Ham, in his division of the world, as a record of the Flood. At the same place there are a number of fallen obelisks and numerous fragmentary remains. Even in Christian times the Abyssinians must have been in a superior condition to what they are now. Their churches at present are mere sheds littered with straw, but at one time they were able to erect stone churches with some pretence of architecture, and even to excavate some very large ones in the solid rock.

INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. In London, on Saturday, his Excellency Count de Bylandt presided at a meeting of the British com- mittee formed to promote the International Agricul- tural Exhibition to be held at Amsterdam from August 25 to September 6 next. The committee met by permission in the rooms of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. It was stated that over £1500 is offered in prizes in those classes for live stock, which were specially introduced in the programme for British exhibits, and that British exhibitors may also compete for various other prizes for butter, cheese, preserved milk, agricult ural implements, and machinery, &c. Mr. Maas, the hon. official agent, at the same time directed special attention to the fact that prizes to the value of £ 31 are set apart to be awarded by the judges in the section devoted to different appliances for the prevention of cruelty to animals. He added that English gentlemen whose names are well known in connection with the agricul- ture of this country have been invited to act as jurors, and that on the proposal of the jury the executive committee will be empowered to award extra prizes in money or gold or silver medals, even for exhibits not specially provided for in the programme. During the meeting of the committee a telegram was received from Amsterdam stating that the last day of entry for horses, cattle, sheep and pigs had been extended to June 15, but that entries in all the other sections definitely close on May 1. A letter was read from the Privy Council indicating that no objection would be made to the return to this country of animals ex- hibited at Amsterdam after undergoing quarantine at Harwich or Leith.

The reduction of the United States debt during February is estimated at$2,500,000. The Odessa correspondent of the Daily News has the best authority for stating that, despite the formally promulgated tax on English coal entering the Black Sea ports, Odessa will be exempted from its imposition.

USJSJbU-LflJSSS UF THiS .blSAJN UKUJJ. In an article on agricultural topics the Daily Tele- graph says: In districts where beans are largely grown, a large proportton of the seeding has been effected under highly favourable circumstances. In these times of almost unprecedented low rates for wheat, it would, perhaps, be just as well if the bean were cultivated a little more generally. It may be true that the crops had apparently dete- riorated in yield until the last two seasons, but this I may have been attributable to the good old wholesome practice of liming strong lands having been very much abandoned for the cheaper and easier application of artificial manures. When lime fresh from the kiln is applied to heavy clays, the mechanical effect in opening the soil is far more beneficial than the direct manurial investment of calcium-not that artificial manuring is to be despised—and even bean culture might, no doubt, be very much advanced if potash in some form or other were more generally made to promote it. Since the enlightened views of M. Ville, the great French chemist, have made headway in England many potato crops have been doubled by the applica- tion of potash mixtures, and in all probability bean growers might with advantage study his theory on the formularies of artificial manures required by different orders of plants. Much more might also be made out of the bean crop by early harvesting, so as to preserve the straw in better con- dition for utilisation as food for stock. The green stalk and foliage of the bean are of very considerable value as such, and in the new order of things it would probably pay well to strip the beans of their pods ere quite ripe by hand labour in the fields, cutting up the stalks immediately afterwards, and consigning them to silos for conversion to ensilage. Growers of field peas throughout the county of Essex at pre- sent go to the labour of stripping the vines of their pods, that the latter may be marketed in London, and the silo system ought to be of special value to them, as when the peas are stripped the haulm is still green, and if cut at once the siloed would be sure to prove far more valuable winter food for stock than if dried and ricked as pea straw. The late Mr. Mechi was very fond of cropping a con- siderable acreage to peas, with the view of marketing the produce green, and there can scarcely be a doubt that where a farm is not too great a distance from a railway station or large town, the system might be adopted with advantage, the more so as the pea crop makes no heavy demands on the soil. Old farmers, even half a century ago, always had an impression that the soil was in a better state of fertility after a pea crop had been taken than it was previously, and if the views of M. Ville, and some other high chemical authorities be correct that plants possess the property of appropriating nitro- gen from the air by means of their leaves, the cause is not far too seek for the broad-leaved varieties of our field crops, such us the pea and bean, must have an immense advantage in this respect over those of cereal grain.

PRICES OF CART-HORSES. Some of the horses exhibited in the Agricultural Hall, in London, last week, were sold privately at high figures, the highest being 1000 guineas for the much-admired Enterprise of Cannock (2772), the four-year-old stallion, whose total winnings, including the Elsenham Challenge Cup, amounted to 200 guineas. Sir Henry Allsopp was purchaser, and it is said that this magnificent stallion, as well as two others which Sir Henry's agent purchased privately in the Hall, will be placed at the service of the tenant farmers of Worcestershire. The two-year- old first prize stallion, The Alderman (3356) was sold privately for X600 to Mr. H. Brown, for use in Cornwall. Prince William, by William the Conqueror (2343), was disposed of for 240 guineas, and SPJOO was offered and refused for the mare Diamond, by England's Glory (745), from the neigh- bourhood of Rugby. The highest price at the auction on Friday was 290 guineas, given by Mr. Walter Gilbey for the black two-year-old stallion Collier, by Prince (2480). Among the other highest prices were 200 guineas respectively paid for the seven-year-old stallion Somersham Samsom (3496), bought by Mr. Elwyn, and the nine-year-old Sir George (2905), which fell to Mr. Jones. The Duke of Grafton's agent bought the second prize winner, Lincoln Tom (3190), for 160 guineas. The h. c. Sir Garnet (2669) was bought by Mr. Hart, of Abingdon for 205 guineas. Mepal Wonder (3227), which had obtained the same honour, went to Mr. T. Stokes for 275 guineas. The Earl of Faversham was purchaser of Andrew II. for 165 guineas, and Mr. Webster bought Confidence, by William the Conqueror, for 170 guineas; Gram- pian, a three-year-old Norfolk stallion, went to Mr. Kempsfa for 250 guineas; King, by King Charles (1208), sold for 225 guineas to Mr. Webster. Two of the mares, Berriew Venture, by England's Wonder (761), and Beauty, by Champion (441), were bought by Captain Heaton for the Earl of Ellesmere's stud, their prices being 120 guineas and 72 guineas respec- tively. Mr. H. Brown, of Cornwall gave 135 guineas for the mare Honesty, by Duke of Cambridge (3061), and Mr. Priest gave 80 guineas for the third prize mare, Mayfield Jet, by Hercules (1022).

THE MAHDI AT EL OBEID. The correspondent of the Times, in a telegram dated Khartoum, March 2, says I have just returned from an armed reconoissance on the White Nile, under Colonel Stewart. It was of a most satisfactory character. Four sheikhs who were in arms last Friday came willingly on board and heard with delight of Gordon Pasha's arrival, of his proclamation, and his messages of peace. One sheikh volunteered to take some copies of the proclamation, and spread them among the tribes which until now had been hostile, promising, more- over, to bring their sheikhs to see Gordon Paslia in ten days' time. These men state that the Mahdi has sent orders to Faki Ibrahim, who has the command of 4000 men on the White Nile, not to fight or provoke hostilities. He has sent similar orders to Sheikh Buseer, who is in arms on the Blue Nile, forbidding him to attack Sennaar or to advance on Khartoum. Four other hostile sheikhs came and gave in their submission to General Gordon yesterday. A major and two sergeants have come in from El Obeid, having belonged to the old garrison. They were engaged thirty days in travelling here. Great misery, they assert, prevails at El Obeid. The Mahdi fears both the tribesmen and the towns- people. A reign of terror exists, although the indis- criminate executions have ceased. The Mahdi has put aside all the rifles into store, saying that they belong to the Egyptian Government, and that he will deliver them to its representative. There is no attempt at anything like government in El Obeid. A soldier arrived here to-day, having been ten days on the road. He reports that the Mahdi received General Gordon's letter, naming him Sultan of Kordofan, with ecstasies of delight, that he gave a robe of honour to the General's messenger, and sent a reply, which has not yet been received. This infor- mant states that General Gordon's policy is now known by all the tribes along the road. The Mahdi, he says, has eighteen wives, and his vakeel twenty- four. The Moslems in Khartoum are horrified at the Mahdi's exceeding the number permitted in the Koran. This indulgence having destroyed his title to the status of prophet, he now joyfully seizes upon that of Sultan. General Graham's victory is known here, and has been heard of with delight. Everything, in fact, looks hopeful.

Ax INCIDENT OF THE WRECK OF TIIE COLUMBUS.— Among the confused mass who were struggling and screaming were noticed a middle-aged man and his wife. Their conduct was in marked contrast with that of the other passengers. The panic which had seized the others was not shared by them, but their blanched faces told that they realized the peril which surrounded them. The only movement of muscles or nerves was that produced by the chilling atmosphere. They stood close together, their hands clasped in each other, as if about to contemplate suicide together, and thus fulfil the marital vow of standing by each other in the varying tide of life's fortunes and misfortunes. As the wreck careened with the gale from one side to the other, and while the spray and waves were drenching them at every moment, the husband turned and imprinted a kiss upon the companion of his life, and while thus embraced a heavy sea broke over the wreck and both were washed away and not seen afterwards.-Detroit Free Press. OUTRAGES ON CIIRISTIANS.-The British Consul at Moosh reports that outrages have been committed against Christians by the Mussulmans. A mollah, under whose leadership the Mussulmans acted, has been banished at the consul's request.

FURTHER DISCOVERY OF DYNAMITE IN LONDON. In London on Saturday morning a black bag of American cloth was found in the cloak-room at the Ludgate-hill Station of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway. It was of similar make to that found at Charing-cross Station. When opened it was found to contain forty-two small packages of dynamite wrapped in tinted unprinted paper, the whole enveloped in a very old and dirty white shirt. There was also a common American metal clock, one side of which had been torn off to lay bare the alarum attach- ment. Bound firmly to the clock was an ordinary breech-loading pistol in such a position that when the hammer of the alarum was set in motion it would fall upon the detonator of a cartridge, and discharge the contents into the packages of dyna- mite. The infernal apparatus was apparently timed to explode shortly after midnight, and as it has been ascertained by the cloak-room records that the port- manteau was deposited between seven and nine on the previous Monday evening, there is no question as to this attempt being a portion of the plot, earlier details of which have already received publicity. The dis- covery was made in consequence of an extraordinary inspection made at the instance of the police. The cloak-room at Ludgate-hill Station is situated under one of the arches over which the trains run. Had the infernal machine exploded-a catastrophe which was only averted by a defect in the machinery used- not only would great damage have been inflicted on the premises level with the cloak-room, but the arches supporting the platforms being blown away, the station itself would have been a complete wreck. The cloak- room porter does not remember any circumstances con- nected with the deposit of the portmanteau, which is not remarkable, considering that at that period of the evening the tide of business is at its height. A handkerchief wrapped round the tin box bore the inscription Greeno and Sons, Washington." The tinted paper found inside is precisely similar to that which was discovered in the other infernal macliines. Immediately the startling intelligence became known the chairman, directors, and all the chief officials of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway arrived on the scene, and subsequently held a meeting to decide upon what steps should be taken. Orders were at once given that all luggage and depositors should be carefully noted, and in cases of suspicion a satisfac- tory explanation should be given of the contents of any parcel called in question. The most stringent orders have also been issued to the chief officials on the line for the utmost caution to bo used as to the transit of luggage along the Flushing route, which is patronised frequently by Royalty. In consequence of a further communication from the police the precautions which have been adopted with reference to the luggage left at the various metropolitan railway termini were supplemented on Sunday night by an exhaustive examination of the several cloak-rooms and left luggage offices. At the Euston terminus of the London and North-Western Railway, where the cloak-room business is very large, and consequently where the conditions under which the packages are deposited are not easily remembered, the extreme step was taken of opening every portman- teau or receptacle possible to contain an infernal machine. This task was the more easily accomplished inasmuch as the amount of luggage in the cloak-room is at its minimum on Sundays. At the St. Pancras terminus of the Midland, and the King's Cross terminus of the Great Northern Railway, the cloak-rooms were also thoroughly overhauled under the supervision of the stationmasters. It appears that in many cases the luggage deposited at these stations is owned by gentlemen well known to the officials, and, of course, where the bona fides of the packages have been thus established they have not been opened. But any portmanteaus or bags not coming under this category were subjected to a searching inspection similar to that instituted at Euston. The Liverpool-street and Fenchurch-street termini of the Great Eastern Railway, the Broad- street terminus of the North London Railway, and the Cannon-street and London Bridge termini of the South Eastern Railway have also been the scene of unwonted activity so far as the cloak-rooms are con- cerned. The result of this sudden and extraordinary inspection has been entirely satisfactory, and it is hoped that the full measure of the conspiracy has been ascertained. The railway companies having their termini in Glasgow have, at the suggestion of the police, adopted the precaution of placing conspicuously in all their parcel-offices a placard to the effect that the company will exercise the right of opening in the the presence of the owner any parcel that may be presented to them, for the purpose of ascertaining its contents. In consequence of the recent discoveries and the threats that have been received, the postal authori- ties have deemed it necessary to take extra precau- tions in receiving parcels from the public, and have accordingly instructed their officers to take particular notice of all parcels so handed in for transmission through the Parcels Post.

The following bill was issued on Monday from the Criminal Investigation Department, offering a reward for the discovery of cabmen who conveyed men sus- spected to have been concerned in the dynamite outrages "Metropolitan Police.—Notice to Cabiiien.El Reward.—Wanted, the driver of cab who, about seven p.m. Wednesday, 20th February, took up at the main line exit at Waterloo Station two men of the following description who arrived from Southampton cl 1st, age 29, height 5ft. lOin., large round face, light brown hair and slight moustache, dress light tweed suit and soft felt hat, military appearance. Second, age 30, height 5ft. 5in., hair and full beard brown, small features, short thick neck, dress light brown mixture suit, black fur cap, white muffler, had with them a large brown American trunk covered with stamped leather, bound with iron, oval top, and a bundle of clothing tied up in a black cotton cloth with leather strap. Informa- tion to Chief Superintendent Williamson; Great Scotland-yard, who will pay the above reward."

On Monday the Home Office authorities decided to offer ElOOO reward for the apprehension, or for such information as shall lead to the apprehension, of the persons who caused the explosion at Victoria Station, and attempted the outrages at the Charing-cross, Paddington, and Ludgate-hill Railway stations. The four railway companies interested the Great Western, the South Eastern, the London and Brighton, and the London, Chatham, and Dover- have joined in doubling it. The announcement of the reward is accompanied by the description of four men whose movements have been to some extent traced. It has been proved that the actual perpetrators of the outrages were from America. Even the routes by which they came are known. Four persons, who are believed to be the dynamitards, arrived in London on the night of the 20th ult. Two of these men came up from Southampton on the 20th ult. by the train timed to arrive at Waterloo at 7.4 They had evidently come direct from America, and the fact that the New York Sun found in the portmanteau at Pad- dington bears date February 6 may indicate the time when they started on their journey. The first of these men was aged about 29, and was 5ft. lOin. or 11 in. in height. He is described as having a large round face, light brown hair, and slight mous- tache. He is of square build, turns out his toes in walking, and possesses altogether a soldierly manner. He wore a light tweed suit, lace boots, and a soft felt hat. His companion is about 30 years of age, somewhat shorter in height, with brown hair and a full beard. He has small features and a short neck, and is what is called "stiff built." He wore a light brown mixture suit, a black fur cap, a mumer about his neck, and lace boots. The two had with them a large brown American travelling trunk in stamped leather, bound with iron, and a bundle of clothing tied up in a black cotton cloth, fastened with a leather strap. The men took a cab at Waterloo, and the police hope to trace the cabman who carried them to some destination. On the same night, the 20th ult., two other men, o a somewhat higher social stamp, arrived in London, evidently by different routes. The first reached the Waverley Hotel, Great Portland-street, at about seven o'clock in the evening. He appeared to be about 28 years of age, and 'was 5ft. Gin. or Gin. in height. He was thin-faced, with dark complexion, hair, eyes, and moustache. He wore a rough dark overcoat and felt hat. He was the owner of the small brown leather portmanteau found at Paddington Station. He had also a "black shiny" bag of good size. The second man, who is described as an American, arrived at the same hotel an hour afterwards. He is suspected to be the chief in the affair. Aged about 40, he was of medium height, had a long fair moustache and light brown hair, and wore a black "cutaway" coat and dark trousers, black ribbed overcoat, and hard felt hat. He had as luggage a "portmanteau-shaped trunk," 3ft. by I-Ift., of dull, black-leather-like cover- 2 ing, such as American cloth, with a single bright handle on top, and a bright piece of circular steel for name or initial, but without either, on the side. He had also a shiny hand bag, 18in. by 12in., and heavy. These two men left the Waverley Hotel on Monday the 25th ult.—the night when the four explosions were to have occurred. The police have good reasons to think that the criminals, whose hands imported the dynamite and placed the infernal machines in the stations made their way out of the country before the explosions were to have occurred. It is believed that the bag at Paddington was left at half-past five on the 25th. If this was the case, the men who left it would have had time to leave London by the 5.45 express for Weymouth, whence the Great'Western Company runs a steamer to Cherbourg. The other bags were all left in time to admit of the conspirators leaving London for the Continent by one of the many trains which start after eight o'clock at night.

CHARGE OF ABDUCTION. At Birmingham on Wednesday, Samuel Neale, a wommiBsion and wholesale news agent was charged with the abduction of Florence Lillestono, otherwise Dillon, and with making false declarations before the Superintendent Registrar of Birmingham for the pur- pose of procuring a marriage between himself and the girl. The latter is the elder of a trio of juvenile gym- nasts known as Lillo Elspar, and Echo, who are well known at concert halls in various parts of the country. She is a childish-looking girl of 15, and throughout the proceedings appeared to be altogether indifferent to them. She is the daughter of the landlord of the Red Lion Hotel, Smaflbrook-street, Birmingham, and had frequently performed at the Crystal Palace Concert-hall, Birmingham, and in London. At the time of the abduction the girl was resting at her home, having just concluded an engagement. While at the hotel she frequently went behind the bar, where she was an attraction, customers crowding the hotel to see the gymnast off the stage. The defen- dant, who was engaged at the time to a female news- vendor, visited the house almost nightly, and got on very friendly terms with the feminine gymnast; but, having his original sweetheart with him on most occasions, no suspicion was aroused on the part of the landlord and landlady that the defendant was enamoured of their daughter. But it was alleged that on the 5th inst. the defendant and the girl went to the registry office and were married, the parents being ignorant of the matter. Subsequently the father was told of the marriage and was asked not to stand in the war. It was then found that the defendant had made a false declaration as to the age and address of the girl and other particulars. On the opening of the case the magistrates suggested that an adjournment for a few days should be taken, with a view to a private settlement; but the plaintiff's counsel stated that his instructions would not allow him to consent to an adjournment. He said the girl was very young, and the father was, therefore, anxious that some sort of arrangement should be made that she should not live with her husband till a fit and proper time. After some discussion, the plaintiff's counsel said he would consent to an adjournment if there was a distinct assurance that until the matter was heard in court or settled there would be no attempt to see the girl or any attempt to influence her in any shape or form. The defendant having given the necessary pledge, the case was adjourned till the 7th of March.

THE PROFITS OF POULTRY KEEPING. That poultry keeping is a profitable occupation there is no room for doubt (says the Morning Post in Our Agricultural Reports "). We have just received a statement of the results attained by a gentleman in Dublin, who keeps an exact record of the number of eggs obtained and of the cost for corn. Scraps from the house were given to the fowls, but as they would have been otherwise wasted, they are not recorded. On the 1st of January, 1883, the year commenced with twenty-four hens and three cocks, and from these 3,054 eggs were obtained during the year. At Id. each-during the early months as much as 2d. each was obtained, so that Id. is a 2 lower value than was actually received—these eggs brought in Y,12 14s. Five chickens were killed and sold for 2s. 6d. each, bringing up the total re- ceipts to X13 6s. 6d. The corn bought during the year cost X3 13s., and three fowls died, the value of which is put down at 3s. This makes a total of S4 2s., and leaves the very respectable sum of X9 4s. 6d. to pay for trouble and profit. No chickens were bred," writes our informant, "as it was a very bad season. I did set a few, but as they did not turn out well I gave it up." The fowls were a Brahma-Dorking cross, and were looked after at odd times. Surely we have here a good example of a small industry not to be despised. A few fowls would pay the rent of many a small country cottage.

SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. A number of the members and students of the Institute of Agriculture assembled in the lecture hall of the South Kensington Museum, on Monday night, when Mr. Henry Woods, agent to Lord Walsingham, read a paper on Southdown Sheep-their History, Peculiarities, Merits, Breeding, and Management." Lord Walsingham presided, and amongst those present were Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., and Mr. Biddell, M.P. Mr. Woods said that the Southdowns were sup- posed to be indigenous to the Downs of Sussex, and certainly they were known there before the Conquest. It was not until the latter part of the last century, however, that the breed came to be esteemed for their hardy constitution, the excellence of their wool, and the fine quality and flavour of their mutton. They were, no doubt, one of the purest and least mixed of any of the breeds in Great Britain. Mr. Jonas Webb cultivated them with vigour and courage, being convinced that they produced the greatest weight and gave the best quality of meat of any for the amount of food they consumed, and that, con- sequently, they were the most profitable for the breeder and grazier. So valuable did pure rams become that in 1860 a yearling was sold for 250 guineas. Some of the Merton flock, maintained by Lord Walsingham, had attained a weight of 2511b. The most noted breeders at the present time were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Suffolk, and some of the leading agriculturists of the eastern counties. Mr. Woods, while thus speaking in praise of the Southdowns, did not seek to depreciate other breeds, for whilst Southdowns were well adapted for upland and dry soils they were wholly unsuited, he said, to some other soils, and conditions

EXPLOSION AT A LONDON THEATRE. In London on Tuesday afternoon an explosion occurred at Covont-gardon Theatre, and following so closely on that at the Victoria Station it created a great deal of alarm, and gave rise for a time to wild and exaggerated rumours. About the time stated two constables named Redmund and May were leaving the Bow-street Police-court, when they observed two flashes, which were followed instantly by a loud explosion, in the office of Mr. Gyo, of the Royal Italian Opera, facing Bow-street. A crowd immediately assembled at the spot, and much excite- ment arose. The policemen at once proceeded to the office of Mr. Gye, and found it full of smoke. On the floor a man named Harry Cardwell, a firework artist, was lying bleeding profusely and apparently much hurt. He was at once removed to King's College Hospital, where it was found that he had sustained severe injuries to his face and other parts of his body. His beard and hair had been singed, and his eyebrows were burnt off, and fears are entertained that he will lose his sight. His left thumb was partially blown off, and the left side of his face was lacerated in a fright- ful manner. From subsequent inquiries it appearod that tho injured man had been engaged with Mr. Gyo in experimenting with chemicals for the production of lightning in various scenes in the Royal Italian Opera. While so engaged, a bottle containing some chemical accidentally exploded. Mr. Gye escaped unhurt, but the injured man's brother was slightly injured in the neck.

The Cunard steamer Cephalonia, while leaving New York on Wednesday, ran down and sank the tug Glendale. Two persons on board the tug wore drowned, but the remainder of her crew were rescued by another tug. The Cephalonia was unin- ured and continued her voyage. In Rome, on Wednesday, a duel with swords was fought between the Marquis Antaldi and the Deputy Belgioioso, in consequence of some words exchanged at the Court ball in the Quirinal, on Monday evening last. The Deputy Belgioioso was slightly wounded in the right hand.

TiUK CART-HORSE SHOW. By far the best show the English Cart-Horse Society has ever held opened at the Agricultural Hall, in London, on Tuesday, and was visited by a very large number of persons. Among those present were Sir Charles Dilke, President of the Local Govern- ment Board; the Earl of Camperdown, the Hon. Cecil Parker, Mr. Walter Gilbey, and many other leading men. There were 338 entries, nearly all of which were present. Of these no less than 265 were stallions, the remaining animals being mares and geldings. These were brought together by two very powerful incentives. The first was a good prize list, amounting to no less than X624, and including the Elsenham Challenge Cup, value 100 guineas, the society's champion cup, value 50 guineas, and other prizes varying in value from £ 30 downwards. The second incentive was no less powerful. The Cart-Horse Show has become a good market for useful horses, for at no place is there better demand for anything with good blood and action. So long as these two incentives last there is no doubt in the world but that the Cart-Horse Show will be a powerful factor in encouraging the continued improvement of our cartr-horsee. Of all the horses brought together the stallions were the most important. In Class 1, for stallions over five years old and over 16 hands 2in. high, there were 22 animals. These were weeded down, how- ever, to nearly half by Professor Pritchard and the judges. A massive and big-boned black six-year-old, King of the Bucks, belonging to Mr. James Forshan, was placed first, the second place being occupied by Mr. Thomas Shepherd's Commodore. A powerful old horse of great muscular power and nice feathering was Mr. Thomas Smith's Sir George, to whom the third prize was awarded. Class 2 was horses under the height mentioned in the first class, but of the same age. It is note- worthy only because of the ten horses selected by the judges only two passed the veterinary inspection, and the third prize and reserve number had to go to the animals originally weeded out by the judges. Hyperion, belonging to Mr. H. Chandos Pole-Jell, was a good first. He is a very pretty ohestnut, full of action, and giving an idea of his grandsire, the well-known England's Glory. Mr. Nix's chestnut, Lincoln Tom, was second. Class 3 was the class of the show, containing, as it did, the very popular champion of the show. This is a very compact, wide-chested four-year-old bay, Enter- prize of Cannock (2772), an animal tracing back to the well-known Black Prince. He was bred by Mr. Thomas S. Minton, of Montford, near Shrewsbury, and is exhibited by the Cannock Agricultural Com- pany, of Cannock, Staffordshire. There was no doubt, when once his action was seen in the ring, but that he would carry off first honours for his class, but on Tuesday there were some who doubted if he would carry off the whole of the champion honours. Those best able to judge, however, believed that he would do so, and Sir Henry Allsopp on Wednesday morning so far speculated on the result as to give lOOOgs.—the second time only in the history of the breed that such a price has been paid—for him, taking also the obligation of his being hired for the coming season. When this is taken into account the price will be found to be the highest price yet paid. Besides the champion animal this class contained as good a lot of cart-horses as have ever appeared in the ring to- gether, and the judges noticed no less than six animals besides the prize-winners. The three-year-olds came next, a big class, but weeded down to small proportions by the judges and Professor Pritchard. The Market Rasen Cart-horse Society's big-boned King of Trent-as promising a youngster as there is in the show—was a good first, and afterwards took the Ten-guinea Champion Cup, as the best stallion under four years old. The Hon. E. Coke's well-quartered Charter was second, and a handsome and taking chestnut, belonging to the Cannock Agricultural Company, third. This was a very popular win, as were all the decisions of the judges, and was received with loud applause from all sides of the ring. Two-year-old stallions were a good class. The Nottingham Corporation Sewage Farm obtained the first prize with Alderman, bred by Mr. Goodall, of Derby. The second prize goes to Weston Tom, another animal with big frame and bone, and giving great promise. A pretty chestnut, but an animal that will never dovelop into the size of the other two, was placed third. Besides the prize-winners, no less than six were highly commended by the judges. Yearling stallions were also a good class. Mr. Potter's Prince William is a fine-framed bay; Mr. Stephenson's British Lion is a good son of William the Conqueror; and Mr. Blundell's Stallion, were first, second, and third respectively; and besides these the judges were very liberal in commendations. The classes for mares and geldings do not call for much remark. The Champion Cup, value 25 guineas, given for the best mare, was won by the Hon. E. Coke's Czarina big, roomy, three-year-old chestnut, with good action and breed. Another good animal was the Duke of Westminster's Lady Whitelock, a seven-year-old roan, to which was awarded the cham- pionship of tho older mares. The judges were Messrs. W. T. Lamb, Welbourn, Grantham John Morton, West Rudhain, Swaffham; and Frederick Street, Somerham-park, St. Ives.

ASH-WEDNESDAY SERVICE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. On Wednesday at the twelve o'clock service at Westminster Abbey there was an immense congrega- tion, which included many members of the House of Commons, The House of Lords met at a quarter to twelve, and a procession, including the officers of the House, the Lord Chancellor, and several peers, was formed, which proceeded to the Abbey, where the stalls and other seats were reserved for them. The Commination Office was chorally rendered, the precentor taking the priest's part. The hymn, "Thine for over, God of love," having been sung, the Archbishop of Canterbury commenced the communion office,- the Epistle being read by the Bishop of Lichfield, and the Gospel by the Bishop of Ely. The Bishop of Lichfield, as j unior prelate, preached from Haggai i. 7, Thus saith the Lord; consider thy way s. His lorpship said the duties of Lent were summed ways., up in the precept of the text, which pointed out not only a religious duty, but one dictated alike by con- science, prudence, and self-respect. Having dwelt on the value of Lent observance, the bishop said that the words in the text were addressed not to an individual but to a nation, where crops were scanty, labour had failed, and wages were wasted because they had forgotten God. In these days, too, those who believe have no difficulty in recognising when God's judg- ments are in the earth, and there was much to make us anxious now, for our sky is not only overclouded, but there are darker clouds on the horizon. Our flocks and herds are stricken, trado is bad, one large part of our kingdom is disaffected, and even at our doors deeds of diabolical wickedness are perpetrated; sounds of dynamite break on the midnight air, astounding those going home from their gaieties and the homeless wanderers alike. He (the bishop) would not, however, have them take a pessimist view of the country. We had still a national Church, prayers precedes in Parliament angry discussion, and even the deliberations of the judges were prefaced by appeals for wisdom to Him by whom kings reign and princes decree justice. Never had the Church been more earnest and active, never had men and women ministered more earnestly to the wants of the necessitous poor; while attention was aroused to the crying evil of the day in the overcrowding of our long-suffering poor. Let us hope that attention will deepen into conviction, and that the national conscience being touched, the feeling will not be allowed to evaporate in mere idle sentiment. It was most gratifying to see the Legislature grappling with this difficulty, and laying aside all dissensions in the desire to ascertain its causes and means of remedy. Our hopes, however, cannot altogether remove our anxie- ties, and in proportion as we forget God or our duty in party dissensions will His chastisements and judg- ments be on us. Havmg dwelt on the glorious career before any future statesman who will embark on the great work of benefiting the poor, his lordship con- cluded by an eloquent peroration, in which he said that a nation could best secure God's favour by a hearty recognition of the fact that He sitteth above the waterfloods and ruleth among the kingdoms of men."

The steamer Cubano, from New Orleans to Liver- pool, with passengers and 5800 bales of cotton, was abandoned on the 15th inst. at sea full of water, and with her engines broken down. Five days previously tho passengers and crew were taken off. They were landed at Lisbon, whence the news of the loss of the ship was despatched to Liverpool on Wednesday. The Cubano was a vessel of 2753 tons burden.